I feel like I can finally put a nail in the coffin of cross-linking websites. Let me be specific, cross-linked, thematically unrelated links appear to push little or no value to other websites. In fact, it’s fair to say excessive cross-linking surely hurts in Yahoo and is very much devalued in Google. Google, as always, seems to be adding to the “don’t” list as far as linking goes.

I don’t really care about the fact cross-links aren’t working anymore. All it affects is the need for a more diverse link-profile for each website on your network. Sure, it’s a bit more work, but it’s a common sense approach you’ll need anyway. Plus, it certainly does look “less spammy” to not present visitors with a giant list of unrelated links on your sidebar or in your future. Of course this kills the business models of many blog networks, but that business model has been sucking wind for years anyway.

Now Google should go one step further and dismiss the “reciprocal link dump” type posts that are so prevalent in blogs. Blogs who are linking to each in a one-to-one relationship for gain get away with it if they do it in a faux “editorial” way.

In any event, another small loophole has been closed.